Couch-bed.



P. S. SPRAGUE.

GOUGH BED.

APPLIOATION FILED 11110.28, 190s.

Patented Maryl, 1909.

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P. S..SPRAGUE.

Patented Mar. 16, 1909.

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F. S. SPRAGUE.

COUGH BED. APPLICATION FILD DBO. 28, 1908.

Patented Mar. 16

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FRANKLIN S. SPRAGUE, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

corren-BED'.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 16, 1909.

Application filed December 28, 1908. Serial No. 469,561.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN S. SPRAGUE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Somerville, in the county 'of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Couch-Beds,of which the following is a specification.

This improvement relates to that class of couch-beds orcouch-bed-bottoms in which the bed-bottom is constructed in two parts orsections one sliding under the other, both being constructed of metal,whereby when the bed-bottom is extended horizontally it is adapted foruse as a double bed, and when it is not extended it isadapted for use asa single bed or couch.

rlhe invention consists in a certain novel construction and arrangementof parts whereby horizontal guideways are provided which are soconstructed as to ermit of the bed-bottom being extended or c osedwithout binding or cramping and with a minimum of exertion, whereby thebed-bottom can be extended and the parts easily separated by lifting theinner or adjacent edges of said parts and be reassembled by reversingthe operation, and whereby simplicity and cheapness in construction areattained together with efficiency in operation.

` The nature of the invention is fully described below, and illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which z Figure 1 is a side view of abed-bottom embodying my invention, in a closed position, a portion beingrepresented as broken out. Fig. 2 is a cross vertical section of thesame in an open or extended position, a portion being represented asbroken out. Fig. 3 is an end elevation with the two parts or sectionsbeing separated, a portion of the stationary section being representedas broken out. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4, Fig. 1.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Reference -numerals 5 and 6 represent respectively the horizontalportion and the leg portions of the two opposite ends of the metallicframe of the stationary section, said ends constituting the head andfoot pieces. Secured at 7 to and supported by these ends of the frameare the end-rails 8 of the spring bed of which 9 represents the fabric.The legs 6 at opposite ends of the stationary section are connected bylongitudinal rods 10. Bolted at 11 to the four legs or posts 6 areinwardly projecting horizontal bars or brackets 12, said brackets beingall set at the same height, preferably a tritle less than one-half thedistance up the legs from the castors. l The brackets or bars 12 on theposts or legs 6 at each end of the stationary section of the bed areconnected by and support horizontal transversely extending bars 13 madepreferably angle-shaped in cross section, said bars 13 being secured tothe brackets 12 by suitable bolts at 14. A longitudinal bracerail 15extends centrally and horizontally from one of the bars 14 to the otherand is connected at 16 thereto. Preferably the bars 15, 12, and frames5, 6 are all of tubular metal. v

The sliding section comprises thefour legs 17 the two horizontal tubularside-rails 18 sefabric 21 whichrconstitute the spring bed, the saidend-rails being secured at 22 to the legs 17, braces 23 connecting thelegs 17 and end-rails 20, and. braces 24 connecting the legs 17 with theside-rails 18, The sliding section is somewhat shorter than thestationary section, the length being such that the legs 17 are, whenlthe bedstead is closed, between the angle-shaped bars 13 and the headand foot pieces, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, there being justsufiicient sliding space between the vertical portion of theangleshaped'bars 14 and the general line of the adjacent head and footpieces to allow the sliding section to slide out and in with relation tothe stationary section without cramping and without the legs 17 binding.In practice, the operator can stand at either end of the bedstead andmove the sliding section in and out (it being remembered that bothsections are supplied with casters) without binding-the head and footpieces of the guideways provided between the angleshaped bars 13 and thehead and foot pieces 5, 6 of the stationary section.

When the parts are to be separated in order that the two sectionssinaybe used as separate couches, or for any other purpose, the bedstead isextended, and the operator stands at either end, leans over and graspsthe inner or adjacent edges of the fabrics 9 and 21 and lifts them untilthe inner legs 17 may be lifted out of the guideways and from betweenthe horizontal brackets or bars 12 and the inner edge of the fabric 9,the position assumed while the sliding section is becured at 19 to thelegs 17, the end-rails 2() and` sliding section moving easily'v andfreely in thel ing thus disengaged being illustrated in Fig. 3. This isvery easily accomplished by reason of the fact that the bars 13 andbrackets 12 are set so low that the inner pair ol legs 17 can be easilylifted over said brackets.

The single brace-rail is centrally located and binds the angle-shapedsupporting bars 13 together with great firmness and rigidity7 said barsbeing connected with equal {irmness to the legs 6 by the supporting barsor brackets 12, thus producing an effectual brace connection. betweentlie opposite corners of the head and foot pieces by the einployment ofa single central rail.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a couch-bed of the character described7 a longitudinal stationarysection comprising head and foot pieces, a pair of short horizontalsupporting bars or brackets extending inward from the head and footpieces, and horizontal transverse bars one being supported by each pairof brackets; and a sliding section the legs of which are adapted whenthe two sections are in engagement to be disposed between the saidhorizontal bars and the adjacent head and foot pieces of the stationarysection, said horizontal bars providing narrow guideways between themand the' adjacent head and foot pieces for the ind ner pair of legsmaking a part of the sliding section.

2. In a couch-bed of the character described, a longitudinal stationarysection comprising head and foot pieces, a pair of short horizontalsupporting bars or brackets extending inward longitudinally from thelegs of the head and foot pieces, horizontal transverse bars one beingsupported by each pair of brackets, and a central horizontallongitudinal brace-rail connecting the central portions of thetransverse bars at the opposite ends of' said stationary section 5 and asliding section the legs of which are adapted when the two sections arein engagement to be disposed between the said horizontal bars and theadjacent head and foot pieces of the stationary section, said horizontalbars providing narrow gnideways between them and the adjacent head andfoot pieces for the inner pair of legs making a part of the sliding'section.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANKLIN S. SPRAGUE.

Witnesses HENRY WILLIAMS, M. A. Arwoon.

